Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are really important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, like the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from damages.
And it’s really much easier than you probably think.
Spotting a gutter leak early can protect an entire home. Below, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can look for (without calling a roofer) to determine if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are a number of signs that indicate a leaking gutter, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the ground to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are present.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the roof, it stresses the connections. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, low quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the home might not cause a leak just yet, but will certainly lead to problems. Having these defects fixed is a lot more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the potential damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If rain is puddling around your house, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is close to your house, just to be careful.
Pooling water near your house can be damaging for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the more noticeable signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several of them.
A drip coming from your rain gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak somewhere. These tiny leaks will occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws wiggling their way out of the rain gutters means a leak will begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits becomes a new area where water can escape if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as refastening them, but it could also be important to cover the hole so no water can leak from around the screw or the nail, even after it is back in place. You can buy this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves behind evidence, especially when it is constantly or frequently present. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the wet surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after you see water stains. water stains can be cleaned and the gutters repaired, but if your gutters are rusty, they definitely have to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on your roof, but you’re beginning to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting wood on your patio or deck, or mold on your window sills, you could have a gutter leak.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all factors should be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to major repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak might not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s probably not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this or hire an East Providence gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or in your downspout, which can cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, you will start to see some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your gutter with little debris present. While it may be small now, a sapling will sprout strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these easy-to-see signs indicate there are issues with your gutter that need to be addressed right away. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a reason for concern.
This is when a professional gutter service in East Providence can be of great help. They can determine whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do simple gutter care, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to take on the project a couple of times a year to save some money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with good customer reviews like EP Gutter Specialists. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for new customers.
If there are gutter repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time for gutter replacement, you can count on us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!